Trying to get some work done at the office, Terry came beside me, “Your wife is terrifying.” I chuckled as I went over some files, “Yeah, well, I knew that before I even thought about marrying her.” “And you still married her.” “My wife of nearly fifty-nine years was the most terrifying woman any man ever laid eyes on.” Ethan chimed in, “But she was also the most beautiful. My Ellena was a Wiccan, a woman with a heart as big as the ocean but a temper that would make the devil tremble at her feet.” Terry and I shared a glance, then looked back at Ethan, “And you married this woman because?” Ethan chuckled, “I’m the only man that showed her any real respect. Plus, she told me that if I was to ever hurt her, she’d turn me into a toad or something.” I raised a brow, “I still don’t see how you married her, but okay,” Terry said. “You’ve been quiet about everything that’s been going on,” I told Terry, but he shook his head. “What’s going on?” “I’ve been going over things with
Getting the call from Ash, I hurried and got ready and left for the city. I’m starting to wish we already lived in the city so I could get there faster. I pulled into a parking spot and started up the steps of the office. Ethan was in his office and waved at me through the glass, “Hey, Hailie,” Terry said as he met me in the waiting area. “Hey, Terry,” I glance around, “Where’s Ash? Is he in his office?” Before he could answer me, Ash came out of his office with an extremely nervous smile on his face. “Hey, beautiful.” He said anxiously, “Glad you could come by!” Why is he so nervous? “So, I need to talk to you real quick.” “Okay, let’s go to your office.” I tried to walk by him, but he stopped me, “No, let’s talk in Terry’s office.” I saw the terror on Terry’s face when Ash said that. I didn’t think anything of it as Ash led me to Terry’s office; dragging Terry with us. It was strange for us to be talking in Terry’s office, but what was really strange is that Terry lo
Finally calming down, I emerged from the bathroom. Ash and my grandparents stood in the waiting area; my grandmother’s eyes were red from her tears. When they saw me, their faces went grim, as if trying to hide that they were sorry that they found me, and weren’t doing a good job at it. Ash came up beside me, trying to comfort me, I gave him a soft smile, but he knew I was still pissed with him. “Hailie,” I heard my grandfather say, gaining my attention, “I know it doesn’t make up for not being a part of your life when you were little, but, here.” He handed me an envelope, “You don’t have to open it now, you can wait. But, please, know that we did love your mother, and we love you too.” I take the envelope from him, “Thank you,” I say, trying to be nice to them. “Perhaps,” my grandmother said softly, “you’ll allow us to be a part of your life now?” Hearing those words, looking at the people that I share blood with and not memories, I wasn’t sure what to say, but I knew what I co
I left Hailie alone to get us some food; she was still sleeping when I left so maybe she’ll be hungry when I get back. Deciding on the cafe we went to when she got her wedding dress, the same day she decided to see where things could go with us, I ordered us both some food and then made my way back toward the office. I just hope she’ll accept this peace offering. When I returned, I opened the door to my office and saw Hailie sitting up and crying, “Hailie?” I ask softly, setting down the food and going to her side; what could have happened in the hour I was gone? She mumbled something I didn’t quite catch, so I asked, “Hailie, what’s wrong?” She glanced up at me, smiling, “I’m pregnant.” I felt a weight slam into me when the words left her lips. “How do you know?” I asked; there’s no way she could know this soon, right? She handed me the note that her grandfather had given her. The note was a check for nearly a hundred grand, the note reading:Rayen, We know we weren’t there f
The following week, we were still reeling from the thought that Hailie could be pregnant already. She had her period a week or so before the wedding, so she’ll be due soon if I remember right. Reaching the house of the Henderson twins, we started up the stairs and through the double doors. We were led through the corridor and to an office where the twins, Luz, an elderly couple, and a young man, probably their bodyguard. Hailie was obviously nervous as we walked in, “Ah, Ashton and Hailie, welcome.” Will said as he came over, shaking my hand and placing a kiss upon Hailie’s. The elderly couple stood and made their way towards us. Hailie took in a slight breath as the man extended his hand to her, “Hello, I am Rowan O’Malley,” he told her and then motioned to his wife, “This is my wife, Cathleen.” She smiled at them both, shaking their hands, “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” Hailie tells them, “Though, I wish it was under a different circumstance.” He chuckles a bit, “Yes, w
Just like I had told him, Rowan emailed me the documents I needed and I headed over to the twins' place for us to go over everything. Ash was at work so I had to go by myself but Angel and Will have become pretty good friends of ours since all this started going on. After what felt like hours of going over the documents, I could feel my mind pounding as Angel and Will explained everything to me. “So, we can help with the gun shipments, but for some of the other implements of what your organization does, I’m not sure if we’ll be much help,” Angel tells me; I raise my brow, “What do you mean?” I asked, curious about what he was talking about. He got up and came over to the other side of the desk and began to explain, “This portion here,” he points to the sales records of something called, Fairy Dust? “What the hell is Fairy Dust?” I ask, trying to make sense of it. Angel chuckled and began to explain, “It’s a drug.” Angel tells me, “It’s a mix of MDMA, cocaine, and a sprinkle o
I inwardly groaned as I listened to a client. She was going on and on about her neighbor doing something to her, but when I did my research on the matter to see if there were even grounds to make this a real case, I found out that this lady was one of the infamous Karens I have heard so much about. I was about ready to bang my head against the desk when a soft knock sounded on my door and opened slightly to reveal my stunning wife poke her head through, “Hailie?” I said; my client jerked her head to the door and with the snobbiest attitude I had ever heard, she said, “Um, excuse me, we’re in a meeting.” I was about to say something but my wife had a look on her face that basically said ‘This is not the day, and I am not the one.’ It must’ve been a long day. “Can you come back? Or are you deaf?” I took a breath to mentally prepare for the outburst my wife was about to give this woman. “Bitch, I have had a long day and I can tell that your case is not going anywhere,” Hailie told h
As time went on, Ashton and I finally told everyone in our lives that we were expecting. Everyone was excited for us, but none as much as Terry! He’s already calling himself Uncle Terry. Ashton and I found a very nice apartment in the city and Helen has agreed to keep an eye on the house for us and we’ve decided to go back for vacations and major events. Maybe Lillian will have her wedding here one day. I shake my head at the thought; that Ash would rather die than hear of the thoughts of his little girl getting married before she was even born. I managed to get through the first trimester with no complications, or horrible symptoms. I’ve been busy trying to get the apartment cleaned up and pick out the nursery. Ashton was hard at work at the office so I’ve been trying to do things on my own; I’ve already been ordering things for Lily too. Things really seem to be looking up!I finally found her nursery! It’s a stunning bedroom with floor-to-ceiling windows that bring in gorgeous
As time went on, Ashton and I finally told everyone in our lives that we were expecting. Everyone was excited for us, but none as much as Terry! He’s already calling himself Uncle Terry. Ashton and I found a very nice apartment in the city and Helen has agreed to keep an eye on the house for us and we’ve decided to go back for vacations and major events. Maybe Lillian will have her wedding here one day. I shake my head at the thought; that Ash would rather die than hear of the thoughts of his little girl getting married before she was even born. I managed to get through the first trimester with no complications, or horrible symptoms. I’ve been busy trying to get the apartment cleaned up and pick out the nursery. Ashton was hard at work at the office so I’ve been trying to do things on my own; I’ve already been ordering things for Lily too. Things really seem to be looking up!I finally found her nursery! It’s a stunning bedroom with floor-to-ceiling windows that bring in gorgeous
I inwardly groaned as I listened to a client. She was going on and on about her neighbor doing something to her, but when I did my research on the matter to see if there were even grounds to make this a real case, I found out that this lady was one of the infamous Karens I have heard so much about. I was about ready to bang my head against the desk when a soft knock sounded on my door and opened slightly to reveal my stunning wife poke her head through, “Hailie?” I said; my client jerked her head to the door and with the snobbiest attitude I had ever heard, she said, “Um, excuse me, we’re in a meeting.” I was about to say something but my wife had a look on her face that basically said ‘This is not the day, and I am not the one.’ It must’ve been a long day. “Can you come back? Or are you deaf?” I took a breath to mentally prepare for the outburst my wife was about to give this woman. “Bitch, I have had a long day and I can tell that your case is not going anywhere,” Hailie told h
Just like I had told him, Rowan emailed me the documents I needed and I headed over to the twins' place for us to go over everything. Ash was at work so I had to go by myself but Angel and Will have become pretty good friends of ours since all this started going on. After what felt like hours of going over the documents, I could feel my mind pounding as Angel and Will explained everything to me. “So, we can help with the gun shipments, but for some of the other implements of what your organization does, I’m not sure if we’ll be much help,” Angel tells me; I raise my brow, “What do you mean?” I asked, curious about what he was talking about. He got up and came over to the other side of the desk and began to explain, “This portion here,” he points to the sales records of something called, Fairy Dust? “What the hell is Fairy Dust?” I ask, trying to make sense of it. Angel chuckled and began to explain, “It’s a drug.” Angel tells me, “It’s a mix of MDMA, cocaine, and a sprinkle o
The following week, we were still reeling from the thought that Hailie could be pregnant already. She had her period a week or so before the wedding, so she’ll be due soon if I remember right. Reaching the house of the Henderson twins, we started up the stairs and through the double doors. We were led through the corridor and to an office where the twins, Luz, an elderly couple, and a young man, probably their bodyguard. Hailie was obviously nervous as we walked in, “Ah, Ashton and Hailie, welcome.” Will said as he came over, shaking my hand and placing a kiss upon Hailie’s. The elderly couple stood and made their way towards us. Hailie took in a slight breath as the man extended his hand to her, “Hello, I am Rowan O’Malley,” he told her and then motioned to his wife, “This is my wife, Cathleen.” She smiled at them both, shaking their hands, “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” Hailie tells them, “Though, I wish it was under a different circumstance.” He chuckles a bit, “Yes, w
I left Hailie alone to get us some food; she was still sleeping when I left so maybe she’ll be hungry when I get back. Deciding on the cafe we went to when she got her wedding dress, the same day she decided to see where things could go with us, I ordered us both some food and then made my way back toward the office. I just hope she’ll accept this peace offering. When I returned, I opened the door to my office and saw Hailie sitting up and crying, “Hailie?” I ask softly, setting down the food and going to her side; what could have happened in the hour I was gone? She mumbled something I didn’t quite catch, so I asked, “Hailie, what’s wrong?” She glanced up at me, smiling, “I’m pregnant.” I felt a weight slam into me when the words left her lips. “How do you know?” I asked; there’s no way she could know this soon, right? She handed me the note that her grandfather had given her. The note was a check for nearly a hundred grand, the note reading:Rayen, We know we weren’t there f
Finally calming down, I emerged from the bathroom. Ash and my grandparents stood in the waiting area; my grandmother’s eyes were red from her tears. When they saw me, their faces went grim, as if trying to hide that they were sorry that they found me, and weren’t doing a good job at it. Ash came up beside me, trying to comfort me, I gave him a soft smile, but he knew I was still pissed with him. “Hailie,” I heard my grandfather say, gaining my attention, “I know it doesn’t make up for not being a part of your life when you were little, but, here.” He handed me an envelope, “You don’t have to open it now, you can wait. But, please, know that we did love your mother, and we love you too.” I take the envelope from him, “Thank you,” I say, trying to be nice to them. “Perhaps,” my grandmother said softly, “you’ll allow us to be a part of your life now?” Hearing those words, looking at the people that I share blood with and not memories, I wasn’t sure what to say, but I knew what I co
Getting the call from Ash, I hurried and got ready and left for the city. I’m starting to wish we already lived in the city so I could get there faster. I pulled into a parking spot and started up the steps of the office. Ethan was in his office and waved at me through the glass, “Hey, Hailie,” Terry said as he met me in the waiting area. “Hey, Terry,” I glance around, “Where’s Ash? Is he in his office?” Before he could answer me, Ash came out of his office with an extremely nervous smile on his face. “Hey, beautiful.” He said anxiously, “Glad you could come by!” Why is he so nervous? “So, I need to talk to you real quick.” “Okay, let’s go to your office.” I tried to walk by him, but he stopped me, “No, let’s talk in Terry’s office.” I saw the terror on Terry’s face when Ash said that. I didn’t think anything of it as Ash led me to Terry’s office; dragging Terry with us. It was strange for us to be talking in Terry’s office, but what was really strange is that Terry lo
Trying to get some work done at the office, Terry came beside me, “Your wife is terrifying.” I chuckled as I went over some files, “Yeah, well, I knew that before I even thought about marrying her.” “And you still married her.” “My wife of nearly fifty-nine years was the most terrifying woman any man ever laid eyes on.” Ethan chimed in, “But she was also the most beautiful. My Ellena was a Wiccan, a woman with a heart as big as the ocean but a temper that would make the devil tremble at her feet.” Terry and I shared a glance, then looked back at Ethan, “And you married this woman because?” Ethan chuckled, “I’m the only man that showed her any real respect. Plus, she told me that if I was to ever hurt her, she’d turn me into a toad or something.” I raised a brow, “I still don’t see how you married her, but okay,” Terry said. “You’ve been quiet about everything that’s been going on,” I told Terry, but he shook his head. “What’s going on?” “I’ve been going over things with
I sat in the library, reading a book I had begun before Franklin passed away. Due to the craziness of the last few months, I could not read. I had not heard of the author, but the book seemed interesting. The door to the library creaked, and the scent of hot tea and peanut butter filled my senses. I look over the couch to see Ash walking in with a cup of tea, honey, and a plate of apple slices and peanut butter, “Hey, beautiful,” he said softly, “I thought you might want a snack.” I smiled, marking my spot in the book and taking the offering from him, “Thanks!” Ash moved a table closer so I could set everything down, and then he picked up my book. “Citadel, by C.M. Alongi?” He hummed, “Is it any good?” I nodded, unable to answer him since I had some apples in my mouth. Once I had swallowed, I took the book back. “I’m not far into it, but it seems interesting.” I explain, “I had started reading before your grandfather passed away, but when he did and then the engagement and t